100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care

Rev. Al Sharpton posed briefly for a photo with Mayor Bloomberg in City Hall's blue room before holding his own press conference on the steps of City Hall.

Surrounded by supporters, Sharpton said, "The city must show moral outrage." He alleged that some of the undercover officers at the scene were drinking.

(Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said at least one officer had "two drinks, two beers in the bar," and that the officer in charge of the scene said all officers were "fit for duty.")

Sharpton said the black police union, 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, had taken a vote of no confidence in Kelly and that, overall, community relations with the police are in trouble.

"Imagine living in a city where you have to live in fear of cops and robbers," he said.

Sharpton and company then left to meet with the family, and he said he'll also meet with the Queens DA and speak publicly around 4:30.

Bloomberg, during his own press conference inside City Hall, said he was "deeply concerned," and that Kelly will be the Police Commissioner for the remainder of Bloomberg's term in office.

"There's nobody that should go out into the street and be worried about their safety," Bloomberg said.

NYPDConfidential has a comparison of this incident to the Amadou Diallo shooting.

-- Azi Paybarah

If it didn't already, the open senate seat in Carl Andrews' district now has a clear frontrunner.

Eric Adams, the co-founder of 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, just picked up the support of 1199.

Adams, who has flirted with running for public office in the past, already has the backing of the Brooklyn party organization and has (I believe) the most money on hand of any of the candidates.

He's in the race against, among others, Anthony Alexis, who Rock Hackshaw hoped might be able to "make history" by becoming the first Trinidadian elected to office in New York.